Tire-changing appliance



I. A. WEAVER AND J. STERNAMAN.

TIRE CHANGING APPLIANCE.

APPLiCATION FILED FEB. 20, 1919.

1,341,728. Patented June 1, 19210.

2 SHEETS--$HEET l.

I. A. WEAVER AND J. STERNAMAN.

TIRE CHANGlNG APPLIANCE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1919.

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Patented J 11110 1, 1920..

2 SHEETSSHEET Z.

and

IRA A. WEAVER ARI) JOHN STERNAMAN, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB-ii TO WEAVER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, A. CORPO RATION OF ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

TIRE-CHANGING- APPLIANCE.

lPatentcd June 1, 1920.

Original application filed October S, 1916, Serial No. 12413117 Divided and this application filed Feb ruary so, 1919. Serial no. amass.

To all whom it may concern:

'EHOVBIHGIES in iire -hanging A ppliancs,

-of which the following is a specification.

Our invention pertains to machines adapted for use in thetoperation of transverselysplit, contractible, vehicle-wheel rims and theirassociated tires in 'order to assemble or disassociate'the same, the main of primal pal object-of the invention being to provide a structure v rliich will reduce the labor involved and eliminatethe diiliculties of manual actuation. A machine of the character described should have the capability of aidaptation to all sizes and types of split rims eniployingpneumatic tires, that is to say, a mechanism of this-type to be of practical use and commercial feasibility must be capable of acting as required on all of the styles and sizes of split rims commonly employed at the present time To this end we have devised a machine combining the elements of simplicity, inexp'ensiveness of construction, and adaptability to the different uses required. In order that those skilled in this art'may have a, full and complete understanding of the invention and its various structural and functional advantages'we have illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification a. preferred-and desir: able embodiment of the invention, like reference characters throughout the various views referring to the same parts on ele ments.

In these drawings: Figure-1 is an elevation of the improved and novel mechanism;

Fig. is a fragmentary, vertical section on an enlarged scale;

.Fig. 3 is a plan. viewof the structure illustrating the manner of contracting a split rim to facilitate the removal of the tire casthe structure shown in Fig. &.

Referring to the drawings, it will be ob- 3* served that the machine illustrated, repre senting a preferred and desirable embodiment of the invention, comprises a hollow standard 20 having an enlarged square base 21 and provided at its upper end with three, so

stationary, radially-extending, supportii1g-- arms 22, 23, 24 having undercut ways or grooves 25 therein as best shown in Figs. 2 l

to 5 inclusive. Mounted to slide within each of these three grooves or guide-ways is a jaw 26, the more' or less triangular-shaped lower portion of which occupies the undercut groove-in the corresponding radial arm and has a threaded aperture through its base receivingone of the three threaded members or screw-shafts 27, 28'and 29, one of which,

as is indicated, is associated with each of the,arms. At its inner end, as illustrated m Fig. 2, each'of such screws is provided wlth a bevel-pinion 30, the three of which are 111 mesh with a common bevel-gear 31 mounted concentrically on a hub 32 located at'the center of the radial arms. At its outer end one of such threaded members, 27 for example, is provided with a crank-haudle 33 by which it'xnayv be readily turned. It will be seen that, lay-reason of this an rangenient or parts, the jaws may be manu ally. actuated simultaneously and equally either, expanding or contracting them, and that the rim clamped by such jaws is accurately centered withrelation to the axis of the niachine;

The portion of each jaw 26 extended upwardly from the corresponding radiabarm 1s hollow to receive averticallyedjustable slide-bar 34 having pivoted to its upper enda hoolcmeinber 35. As is clearly shown in Fig. 4 one edge of each slide-bar is toothed orequipped with a ratchet portion 36 to provide for its retention in the member 26 at its vertically-adiusted position. It will.

be readily understood that this adjustment is desirable in order to permit the. appliance to accommodate THIIS of dil the hooks being employed to engage the rim when necessary to effect its contraction.

A rotary sleeve or winding-drum 58 (Fig.

ierent widths, a

2) surrounds a vertical shaft 37 accommodated in the hub 32 and rests upon the lat ter. To the upper end of such sleeve or drum is pivoted an. operating handle 59 hav' ing a tooth or dog 60 cooperating with film circularly-notched upper face of a plate or cover 61. Secured to the sleeve 58 is a chain G2 to the outer end of which a hook G3 is fastened, the 'function'of which in contract- 5 in the rim is best shown in Fig. 3.

- ihe operation of the appliance is asfollows-z AsSllInlllg that It is desired to remove pneumatic tire-casmg A from a. transverselyi split rim B, the two are placed on the machine resting on the three, stationary, radi ating arms 22, 23, 24-, and the bars or blocks 34 having been adjusted to proper height, the three-hooks 35 are swung overthe upper edge-of the rimv and the hook (53 brought into cooperative. relation with the rim near the jointtherein, 'lhereupoii, the handle or lever is rotated to windlup the chainjon the sleeveor drum 58 to a sufiicientjextent v to displace or offset the ends of the rim and the handle is held in such position by the ,3!) casing or another'one' is returnedto the. rim

in the position shown in a generahway in Fig. 3and,,the drum and chain hav ng been 'released,'the crank33 is rotatedin the vopposite directioneausing the jaws QG toeXLpaIId or move radially outwardly equally simultaneously thus'forc'ing or expanding, the rim into. proper operative relation to thetirecasing,iwhereupon its two ends, now in reg- 1stor, ma'y be locked together in the usual The tire-casing or shoe may beremoi ed means for lessening the elfective length of such flexible element whereby the ends of from a laterallysplit rim by the use of this pparatusin a somewl'iat different and more xpeditious manner. The rim and its casing re laid on the device in the usual wayand he jaws adjusted. Then the joint-is f-"isoeiated hook 63 as described, \ihercupon @the operator l fts an endot the run bringcal embodiment.

iormer' patent; I 124:,011, tire changing machines, filed Qclcenter, substantially :as described.

'hrokenby means of the chain 62 and its as-- 5Q v ng the rim tlSi it whole into general spiral rim especially when excessive contraction is necessary by reason ot; a long valve-stem projecting; inwardlythrough the rim near its 'jOlllt.

' "0 those skilled in thisart various modifications of the structure'pre'sented will readily suggest themselves, and will obviously fall within the spirit and scope of this'invention as defined by the appended claims. It is tobe understood, therefore, that the invention susceptible of a Variety'of embodiments all ncorporating its ,general' 'princlples and that the invent on is not l1mited and restricted to any particular physiapplication,

This application is a division" offour Serial N0,

tober 6,1916, r

oWcclaim:

1 1. In an appliance of chara cter de- '80 scribed,- the combination ofa, support for a -trans ersely-split rim, means to engage the rim near its joint and bring its endfs into ofiset relation, and means to contract the rim when insuchcondition ,tofa'cilitate the. t

I prising a plurality of menibersadapted to; engage the rim at intervals in its circumferremoval or application of a tire-casing, com= ence, and means to simultaneously draw" said members "inwardly toward a common scribed, the combination'of means for sepa-v rating an assembled, transversly-splihi vehicle-wheel rim and itsftire-casins, includmg a support, means n the form of a fl6X1- ,ble element having ahook at dne end for 2. In an appliance of-the characterQde-lg engaging the rim near the joint therein, 7

the rim. may be offset or displaced ,relatively to' one another, a plurality of jawsidisposcd inside of the rim and havingrmeans in thez ally inwardly tothereby contract the size of the rim and to permit the; removal of the tire-casing therefrom,substantially as de-- scribed. 

